"Game To Strip Off Rights, You Will Be Taken To Detention Camp": Mamata Banerjee Attempts Fear-Mongering Over CAA Notification

While the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) has nothing to do with the citizenship of Indians, opposition leaders are continuing fear-mongering after the Centre notified its rules yesterday (11 March).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed doubt over the legality of CAA rules and claimed that there is no clarity from the Government over this and it is just an election gimmick.

She asserted that in 2019, names of 13 Lakh Hindu Bengalis, out of the total 19 Lakh, were removed from the list in Assam in the name of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and claimed that several people died by suicide.

"Will they (whose names were removed) be granted citizenship if they seek? What would be the future of their children? What about their property and employment opportunities?", Banerjee questioned.

"All your rights would be snatched, you would be branded 'illegal'. This is a game to strip you off your rights," she said citing the game of Ludo and claimed that its net result will be zero.

Expressing suspicion that CAA is linked to NRC, Banerjee said, "You will be taken to detention camp... You (Centre) hear me, I will not let anyone be taken away from Bengal."

Targeting the Narendra Modi-led central government, Banerjee said yesterday, "I know why today's date was chosen before Ramazan. I appeal to the people to be calm and avoid any rumors."

The CAA aims to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted minority groups such as Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India on or prior to 31 December 2014.